Pencils



March 18, 1958 @H1-WENEN ETAL 2,827,018

PENCILS YFiled Jan. 27, 195e Inventors Qscar ''enrg 'Tweeken United States Patent() PENcuS @scar Henry 'ifweeten md William H. Sheer, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 27, 1956, Serial No. 561,763

2 Claims. (Cl. 126-13) This invention relates to a pencil, and more particularly to a pencil embodying a relatively large marking element, so that the invention in one form is adapted particularly for making heavy impressions as in the instance of recording bowling scores.

in U. S. Patent No. 2,285,630 patented June 9, 1942 there is disclosed what is referred to as a crayon type pencil embodying an outer casing in the form of a tube and a hollow stem member mounted within the tube. The marking element is mounted within the stem for axial movement relative thereto between retracted and extended positions, and the soft crayon-like marking element is adapted to be advanced from a retracted to an extended position by a short tubular plunger. The tubular plunger includes a plurality of ears thereon adapted to engage threads formed about the inner wall of the outer casing. The pencil of the aforesaid patent further includes a rotatable head or cap adapted to rotate the stem causing the plunger to descend forcing the marking implement outwardly of the pencil casing to an extended position exposing the marking end thereof in position for use. Under the present invention, a substantly simplied connection is afforded between the stem within the casing and the cap of the pencil so that these parts can be readily associated and disassociated and the stem readily rotated within the casing upon rotating the pencil head. The attachment between the pencil casing and the removable head or cap is likewise of simplilied construction, enabling the cap to be readily mounted and dismounted. These reductions in operating structure constitute objects of the present invention.

As was mentioned, the pencil of the aforesaid patent embodies a plunger that is adapted when rotated to advance the marking element of the pencil from a retracted to an extended position exposing the marking end thereofoutwardly of the pencil casing. Another object of the present invention is to replace the plunger in the construction according to the aforesaid patent with a yieldable U-shaped plunger having but a single follower thereon adapted to engage the thread formed about the inner wall of the casing. Such enables the plunger to act without binding as will be described.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawing which, by way of illustration, shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

ln the drawings:

. lFig. 1 is an elevation of the pencil of the present in- ICC vention having the marking element thereof retracted within the casing;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig..1, but being broken away in part, and showing the marking implement having the marking end thereof exposed;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view showing the stem or holder for the marking implement and the plunger disposed therein;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the upper end of the pencil showing the Way in which the cap or head Iof the pencil is associated with the pencil casing and the stern within the case;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the removable cap;

6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially' on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective showing the pencil in a stage of assembly.

The pencil 10, Fig. 1, of the present invention comprises an outer cylindrical casing 11 having a rotatable cap 12 removably mounted thereon at the upper end, and the lower end of the casing 11 is tapered slightly at 13. The casing 11 may be made of any preferred material, and among these are the slightly resilient synthetic plastics for a purpose to be mentioned.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the upper portion of the casing 11 is formed with an annular groove 15. The cap 12 isl hollow as will be observed, and the opening therein is of slightly smaller diameter than the upper end portion 16 of the casing 11 affording an annular edge that is above the groove 15. The cap 12 is formed with a very shallow groove 12G above the lower edge 17 thereof adapted to receive the upper end portion of the casing 11. By constructing the casing 11 and the cap 12 both of somewhat yieldable plastic, the cap 12 can be pressed on to the upper end of the casing 11, the parts yielding to enable this to be accomplished, and then the upper peripheral edge portion at 16 of the casing 11 snaps into the groove 12G of the cap 12 when the cap 12 has been operatively mounted as shown in Fig. 2. This press or force t is nevertheless one that enables the cap 12 to be easily rotated when operatively mounted, and the cap 12 can be removed by inserting a blade or the like beneath the lower edge 17 of the cap 12 and into the groove 15 to pry the cap off. Such removal of the cap 12 can as well be accomplished by gripping the cap 12 between the thumb and forenger and applying leverage thereto, and again the yieldable or resilient nature Iof the casing 11 and cap 12 enables this to be accomplished.

Mounted in the elongated axial chamber of the casing 11 is a stern 2t), Fig. 3, of relatively thin sheet steel in the form of a stamping. The stem 2@ is tubular in nature as will be observed, and this stem is formed with an elongated slot 21 which extends from the upper end to the lower end thereof, rthe slot 21 at the upper end portion is narrowed at 22, affording a shoulder 21A, and opposite the narrow slot 22 is a like slot 23 which extends but part way downward along the stem Eil from the upper end thereof. Disposed at to the slots 22 and 23 are a pair of ears 24 and 25 that are stamped from solid portions of the stem 20. When the cap 12 is removed from the casing 11 to expose the upper open end of the casing 11, the stem 2t) may be disposed within the casing 11 by inserting the same therein from the upper end of the casing 11. When the stern 26 has thus been associated with the casing 11 the ears 24 and 25 repose on the upper end edge of the casing 11 above the groove 15 as shown particularly in Fig. 4. Under this condition, the lower end of the stem 20 projects slightly beyond the lower end of the casing 11 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

' The stem 2l) is adapted to fho'ld a marking element which in the present instance is in the form of a marking crayon 25, and preferably the lower end portion of the stern is tapered slightly as shown in Fig. 3 so as to yieldably grip the portion of the marking element that is co-extensive therewith. To enable such tapering of the lower end of the stem 20 to be accomplished, the slot 21 is extended to the lower end of the stem 20 and is narrowed at 26 affordingl at the same time a shoulder 21B for a purpose to be mentioned hereinbelow. Other slots as 28 and 29 are formed in the lower end portion of the stem 20 so as to extend upwardly from the lower end for a slight distance. The slots thus afforded enable the lower end portion of the stem 20 to be crimped to affordV the desired taper.` When the stem 2i) has been 'mounted in the easing 11 Yas above described, the crayon 25 may be easily inserted in the stem 20 from the lower end thereof.

When the pencil is not inuse, the marking element 25 is preferably withdrawn fully inwardlyV of the casing 11 to protect the marking end thereof, and when it is desired to extend -or lower the crayon 25 for recording purposes the stem 20 is rotated by the cap 12 as will be described presently and this causes a plunger within the stem 20 to descend relative to the casingrll forcing the marking element outwardly. Y.

To enable the stem 20 thus to be rotated by rotating the cap 12, the cap 12 at the interior thereof is provided with a webror blade 32, Figs. 2, 4 and 5, adapted to fit into the slots 22 and 23 in the upper end of the stem 20. Thus, after the stem 20 has been initially mounted in the casing 11 as above described so that the ears 24 Y and 25 repose on the upper end of the easing 11 the cap 12 is held in one hand and isV turned so that the blade 32 thereof can be aligned with the slots 22 and 23 which are in exposed relation in the upper portion Vof the stem 29 that extends above the upper end of the casing 11. The cap 12 is then pressed down on the casing 11 until the cap snaps into place as described above, and this associates `the stern 20 with the cap 12 so that these will rotate together. l

The slot 21 in the widened portion thereof between the shoulders 21A Vand 21B is adapted to receive a generally U-shaped plunger of spring steel or the like. The plunger 35 has a long leg 36 and a short leg 37, and the free end of the short leg 37 is formed with a dog or follower 4t) projecting outwardly at substantially right angles relative to the short leg 37. The legsV Vof the plunger 35 are of less width than theV widened portion of the slot 21 between the shoulders 21A and 21B, so that the plunger 35 may be disposed within the stem 29 merely by dropping the plunger 35 through the widened portion of the slot 21. The plunger 35 is arranged within the stem 20 so that the free end of the long leg 36 is disposed upwardly, that is, the bight or lower portion 35B of the plunger 35 is adapted to engage thev upper end of the marking element V25 as shown lparticularly in Fig. 2.

The follower on the plunger 35, as shown Vin Fig.

I movement. Y

above until the dog or follower 40 reposes on the end of the casingll thereby limiting insertion of the stern 20. The stem 20 is then rotated until the follower 40 is aligned with the upper end of the thread as will be apparent from Fig. 5. The dog 40 is then engaged as by the thumb nail and pressed inwardly to engage the thread 45, whereupon further insertion of the stem 20 into the casing VV11 is attained by the rotating the stem 20 until the ears 24 and 25 repose on the upper end of the casing 11. The capr 12 isV then snapped into place.

To extend the crayon of the pencil after thus being assembled, it is merely necessary to turn the cap 12 in the proper direction to rotate accordingly the stem 20. The stern 2i) of course during rotation carries with it the plunger 35, and the follower 40 thereof will descend on the thread 45 causing the bightV portion 35BV of theV plunger to press on the upper end of the marking element 25 forcing theV marking element out through the lower end of the stem 20 to an exposed position Whereas the marking end thereof is disposed in position for use. Descent of the plunger is limited by the shoulder 21B which catches the dog 40.

After use .of the pencil, the head ,12 is then rotated to withdraw the plunger 35 suci-ently to enable the lower end of the marking element to be pressed upward? ly into the stem 20 into a fully recessed or retracted position.

Of particular importance in the present instant isthe spring nature of the plunger 35. Thus, in molding the casing 11 from plastic or like material it is essential that the casing 11 be provided with draft between the opposite ends thereof as is well known in plastic molding, particularly in view of the internal thread 45. However, the diameter dimensional difference in the casing 11 `between the upper and lower ends thereof is taken into account by the spring nature of the plunger 35,

since the dog or follower 40 is free to compensate be-Y tween high andrlow portions. Additionally, there is no `binding of the plunger 35 upon withdrawing the plunger 35 entirely to the upper end of the stem 20 where Ythe Vupper end of the leg 36 engages the ear 46. Any further rotation of the cap 12' in Van attempt to further withdraw or`retract the plunger 35 at this time is merely manifest in the follower 40 slipping into and out of the thread 45 in what may be termed a free indexing Another advantage to the particular embodiment is the ease or facility with which the pencil may be assembled. Thus, as was described, the marking element 25 and the plunger 35 is first arranged inthe stem 20, the stem Y 20 then inserted in the casing 11 so that the .follower 40 of the plunger 35 is aligned with the thread, 45, and the cap 12 then snapped into place. In disassembling the Y pencil .10, the cap 12 is tirst removed, and the exposed end of the stern 20 is then grasped between thethumb i and forelinger and then rotated to withdraw the plunger 2, is adapted to ride in a thread 45 formed about the inner wall of the casing 11. As shown in Fig. 2, the thread 45 extends from the upper end of the casing 11 and terminates approximately where the lower end portion of the casing 11 commences to taper. Y

VIn assemblingl the parts of the pencil, one way in which this is accomplished is to first drop the plunger 35 through the slot 21 of the stem 20, and in this connection it may be pointedout'that an'ear 46, Fig. 3, at the upper end of the stem 20 is pressed inwardly from a solid portion thereof. This ear V4,6 lies equi-distantly between the ears 24 and 25 and is located somewhat 'therebelow The ear 46 serves as a stop for the upper end of the leg 36 of the plunger Y35. Y Y Y ,K

AfterV the plunger 35 has thus been associated with. the Sie@ 2,0, tlsryvn Z5. may then be' insertedv fromthe 35 upwardly to Yfrere the follower 40 of the thread 45, whereupon the stem 20 is then free to be withdrawn from the casing 11. Y

Hence, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of'our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation 'and modification, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail Ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims. 1

We claim: Y f 1. In a pencil of the kind described having an yextendable marking element, a tubular casing having an inwithin the casing and having a substantially constant rnternal'drameter approximately equal'tto -fthe diameter of the marking element and adapted for insertion into the casing from the upper end thereof, said stem having an elongated longitudinal slot therein, a U-shaped resilient plunger adapted to be inserted in said tubular stem through the slot in abutting relation with the marking element and including a follower member projecting through the slot to engage the thread and to prevent rotational movement of the plunger relative to the stem, whereby rotation of the stem with respect to the casing may cause the plunger to move longitudinally through the stem and force the marking element to an extended position of use, and a removable cap for retaining the stem Within the casing, said cap having a peripheral tongue-and-groove engagement with the casing to afford a means for mounting of said cap on the upper end of the casing by a force fit and permit free rotational movement of said cap with respect to said casing, said cap further having a transverse tongue-and-groove engagement with said stem to prevent rotational movement of the stem with respect to the cap.

2. In a pencil of the kind described having an extendable marking element, a tubular plastic casing having an internal thread molded therein extending from the upper end thereof toward the lower end, a tubular stem rotatably mounted Within the casing and having a substantially constant internal diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the marking element and adapted for i11- sertion into the casing from the upper end thereof, said stem having an elongated longitudinal slot therein and extended position of use, and a removable cap for retaint ing the stem within the casing, said cap being fabricated from a resilient plastic material and having a peripheral tongue-and-groove engagement with the casing to afford a means for mounting of said ca'p on the upper end of the casing by a force t and permit free rotational movement of said cap with respect to said casing, said cap further having a transverse tongue-and-groove engagement with said stem to prevent rotational movement of the stem with respect to the cap.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,396,710 Fleming Nov. 8, 1921 1,575,502 Platon Mar. 2, 1926 1,589,045 Boyle .Tune 15, 1926 1,750,647 Pierce et al. Mar. 18, 1930 2,557,320 Smith .Tune 19, 1951 

